Bong Joon-ho’s 'Mickey 17' faces delay issues on having a dispute with Warner Bros over final cut

"Mickey 17" is an adaptation of Edward Ashton’s newly released novel "Mickey7."

Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming feature will mark the director’s return 6 years after his most critically acclaimed cinema, “Parasite” (2019) stunned audiences won a Palme d’Or, and bagged 4 Academy Awards at the 2020 Oscars.

Bong Joon-ho, renowned for his cinematic masterpieces like "Memories of Murder,” (2003) and “Mother” (2009), had completed his much-anticipated sci-fi film “Mickey 17” by November 2023. Yet, despite his initial plans to debut this feature at Cannes, Warner Bros. has controversially pushed its release to January 2025. The decision has sparked curiosity and concern among fans and industry insiders alike.

Rumors of reshoots and creative clashes have circulated, with reports indicating a significant disagreement between Bong and Warner Bros. over the film’s final cut. The studio is pushing for a version they believe will be more "accessible" to a broader audience, a direction Bong strongly opposes.

This tension is underscored by the fact that multiple test screenings of different versions of 'Mickey 17' have already taken place. The film, with a hefty budget of $150 million, is now on uncertain ground, casting doubt on whether Bong’s director’s cut will ever be seen in theaters.

Fans and critics alike have expressed their dismay on social media. A fervent supporter commented, "Never trust your own senses. Only trust Bong Joon-ho's." Another fan highlighted, "Bong Joon-ho’s work is all about meticulous detail. To alter his cuts is to undermine his entire vision." The overwhelming sentiment among fans is clear that crippling a visionary’s thought process is not cool in the very least nor is it okay. Bong has proved himself to be a masterful filmmaker whose films are being studied as to how intricate they are. Interfering with Bong Joon-ho's films is ill-advised. He has a unique vision that should be respected.

The controversy has also sparked discussions about potential biases, with some speculating that Bong might be facing this pushback because he is a foreign director. "Hope they’re not treating him like this because he’s a foreigner," one comment read.

"Mickey 17" is an adaptation of Edward Ashton’s newly released novel, "Mickey7," and includes a stellar cast with Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, with Robert Pattinson in the lead.

The narrative revolves around an "expendable" individual (played by Pattinson), a replaceable worker on a human mission to establish a colony on a frozen planet. When one of these workers perishes, a new version is created, retaining most of the memories of the previous one.